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Cloth and Fur hat with EGA


Lawguns
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Early 40s, you'll often see them worn in Iceland and by Marines stationed in colder climates. Not uncommon to see a bird mounted on them. Nice cover.

Semper Fi

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So the hat was used from pre WW2 to Korea and it was a cold weather hat for the Marine corp. Thanks again.

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usmcaviator

Often mislabeled as a China Marine cap. It was not worn in China in the early 1940's. The Peking and Tientsin Marines had local purchased Russian style "Ushanka" fur caps of mink and weasel.

Mike

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usmcaviator

were these not worn in Iceland?

 

They were worn in Iceland by the First Provisional Marine Brigade, however not with EGA insignia standalone. Period photos sow that the Brigade wore small mirrored diamonds with a collar sized EGA to the front. Diamonds that I have owned/sold in the past, can be made of cut-down shaving mirrors or polished german silver. You will sometimes find these caps in lots attributed to Marines of the 2nd and 1st Marine Division who encompassed the Brigade in 1940.

 

Mike

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They were worn in Iceland by the First Provisional Marine Brigade, however not with EGA insignia standalone. Period photos sow that the Brigade wore small mirrored diamonds with a collar sized EGA to the front. Diamonds that I have owned/sold in the past, can be made of cut-down shaving mirrors or polished german silver. You will sometimes find these caps in lots attributed to Marines of the 2nd and 1st Marine Division who encompassed the Brigade in 1940.

 

Mike

Boy I m not one to typically disagree with you Mike as you know your stuff for sure. I have seen some period photos of Marines in Iceland wearing this hat with just the ega WITHOUT the metal diamond behind it. Of course I canot at the moment cite the source(s) but I have taken note of it at the time. I once owned a hat identical to the one in this post, (in fact Mike I bought it from you many years ago on ebay). I have since sold it off as I acquired this named one a few years back. RC White served with the First Provisional Marine Brigade in Iceland. Complete with the metal diamond Mike spoke about. Interestingly, the ega on top of the diamond is a collar ega not the cap size. Certainly I think from a collectors standpoint, the metal diamond is more desirable as it is so specific to the Marines in Iceland, but once again, a few wore the hat over there with just ega no diamond. Kevin

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usmcaviator

Kevin,

Never say never right?! I am sure there very well may be photographic instances of EGA worn standalone, however my point was to just not fall hook line and sinker on all of these caps being Iceland Brigade, especially addition of an EGA. Your fine example is case in point of the right look that is no doubt "Iceland".

 

To support your comments, Marines in China initially wore the Ushanka fur cap without EGA, then with it in the late 1920's, then with enameled diamond starting around 1929. While over a much shorter period in Iceland, it stems to make sense that there may be photos of EGAs being worn as they figured out uniformity and on the path to a diamond insignia.

 

Mike

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Kevin,

Never say never right?! I am sure there very well may be photographic instances of EGA worn standalone, however my point was to just not fall hook line and sinker on all of these caps being Iceland Brigade, especially addition of an EGA. Your fine example is case in point of the right look that is no doubt "Iceland".

 

To support your comments, Marines in China initially wore the Ushanka fur cap without EGA, then with it in the late 1920's, then with enameled diamond starting around 1929. While over a much shorter period in Iceland, it stems to make sense that there may be photos of EGAs being worn as they figured out uniformity and on the path to a diamond insignia.

 

Mike

 

Thanks Mike, your comments are always illuminating and your knowledge is a credit to this forum. Best, Kevin

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  • 4 weeks later...

I agree with Kevin, I have seen these caps in wear with just the EGA in period pictures from Iceland.

 

Best Regards from Iceland Thorsteinn.

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